Himes Happy To Dive In Without Big Splash

December 07, 1986|By Ed Sherman, Chicago Tribune.

HOLLYWOOD, FLA. — Larry Himes is coming to Hollywood, but that doesn`t mean he`s going to be pressured into putting on a big show.

In 1975, Bill Veeck came swaggering into this town, set up shop in the hotel lobby and played ``Let`s Make A Deal.`` Last year, Ken Harrelson grabbed the spotlight at the winter meetings with his cowboy hat, one big deal and several near-trades. The Hawk always found a way to keep things interesting.

Himes, though, doesn`t feel compelled to do an encore. If the White Sox`s new general manager doesn`t make as much as a whisper during baseball`s escape from the cold this week, he isn`t going to panic.

``I don`t feel any pressure to make a major trade,`` he said. ``I`m not going down thinking that it`s a must to make a deal.``

He even conceded that he isn`t one to make a lot of noise. Don`t expect to see any signs on the highways next year proclaiming ``Himes wants you.`` If things go as planned, he figures he`ll be in the background, with the players and manager getting the accolades. Low-key is Himes` style.

``That`s the way it should be,`` he said.

Himes obviously recognizes that he has to make some moves to improve a team that sank to 72-90 last season. But the absence of a trading deadline this year eliminates any rush to make the big deals, which could result in a relatively quiet session this week.

``I`m not going to be impulsive and spontaneous,`` Himes said.

That way leads to mistakes, which usually are followed by dismissal. Himes said he didn`t come this far in his baseball career to make mistakes.

He started at the bottom, spending 10 years as a minor-league catcher in the Reds` farm system, never once reaching the big time.

``When Johnny Bench came along, I was history,`` Himes said.

Still, he learned valuable lessons during his playing career, which will be emphasized with the Sox.

``I was a team player,`` he said. ``I was concerned about advancing the runner, trying to drive in the run with a ground ball. You look at today`s game and all you see is `I, me, my` at the big-league level. I remember Fred Hutchinson telling Frank Robinson not to hit to right field with a runner on second because of his great power. But that tells you what kind of player he was, the kind willing to give himself up. I want that type of philosophy implemented into our system.``

Himes taught those values to his players during his days as a minor-league manager in the Angels` farm system in the 1970s, when two of his players were current Sox Julio Cruz and Richard Dotson. He also was involved in scouting, which eventually led to his promotion in 1981 to scouting director and head of player personnel for the Angels, the job he held when he moved to the Sox.

When he took over in 1981, the Angels had six scouts and a desperate need to jump into the free-agent market. When he came to the Sox, he left one of the best farm systems in baseball.

``When I came in with the Angels` farm system, it was a ragtag operation,`` Himes said. ``They needed leadership, organization and a sorry need for morale-boosting. We were able to do a lot of things there.``

His reputation began to circulate throughout baseball. He first started to believe that he had general manager potential when he was interviewed for the Seattle job last year. He eventually lost out to Dick Balderson.

``Prior to that interview, I wasn`t sure about my ability to be a GM,``

Himes said. ``But after interviewing for that job, I heard other people talking about Larry Himes being a general manager. At that point, I pictured and prepared myself for this job.``

He never could have pictured himself running a major-league club back when he was a minor-league catcher, a part-time scout or a manager in the rookie leagues. But looking back, Himes said all of those experiences will help him become a better general manager.

``With a few obvious exceptions, I think a good GM is one who has gone through all the stages of player development,`` Himes said. ``When I talk to someone, I talk from experience.``

Himes believes he has the experience to turn the Sox into a winner, even though he`s relatively inexperienced in making trades.

``I can evaluate players, and get the ones that will help the White Sox,`` he said.

Himes, though, continues to maintain that in the long run the Sox will succeed on the foundation of their farm system, not trades. He proved he could build a strong minor-league system in California. Now he`ll get another chance in Chicago.

``That`s what makes this job so exciting,`` Himes said. ``I have an opportunity to come in on the ground floor and put this organization on the right track.``